YEA! Orlando Application

Background on Program

The Young Entrepreneurs Academy (YEA!) is a year-long program that teaches middle and high school students how to start and run their own REAL businesses. YEA! was developed at the University of Rochester in 2004 with the support of a grant from the Kauffman Foundation. Orlando, Inc. is excited to be introducing YEA! to the Orlando Community!

YEA! guides high school students through the process of starting and running a legitimate business or social movement over the course of a full academic year. As of 2013, YEA! has graduated 1,394 students who have started over 1,000 businesses and social movements! YEA! graduates started as students, and left the program as CEOs of their own companies!

Why Apply?

Develop the skills necessary to launch their own business or social movement (hands-on entrepreneurial experience!)

Learn about real businesses - why they succeed or fail.

Hear from local entrepreneurs.

Launch their own business or social movement!

Become more confident in their ideas and their abilities.

As we strive to serve as many students as possible, we want to ensure that all who are interested in the program have been given the opportunity to apply.

After careful and thoughtful consideration, we’ve decided to extend the application deadline. Applications and admissions will continue to be accepted, on a rolling basis until all spots are filled.

Organization of Program

YEA! classes will meet October through May, for three hours weekly. Applications will be accepted from students in grades 6-12.

There are no classes during regular school holidays and recesses. Students are taught by an instructor, but are exposed to guest lecturers, successful entrepreneurs and business mentors. The class goes on field trips to a variety of local businesses. Finally, the students participate in three major events throughout the year: the Investor Panel, Trade Show and a formal graduation ceremony.

Student Selection Process

To apply for YEA!, students must:

Fill out the YEA! application

Complete the essay and the short answer questions

Submit their transcripts

Submit a letter of recommendation

Once the completed application packet is received, students will be asked to come in for an interview. Acceptance in the program is based on all aspects of an application, as well as the personal interview. Prior experience with business is not required!

How Business Professionals Can Get Involved

Through their interactions with business professionals during the year, YEA! students gain some of the most important knowledge and experience they need to succeed. Local professionals volunteer their time and expertise as guest speakers, mentors, investors, graphic designers, field trip hosts, business plan reviewers, and much more. The time YEA! students spend with adults who encourage their futures is invaluable, and participants often report getting even more out of their participation than they put in to it!

If you are interested in becoming involved with YEA! as a guest speaker, fieldtrip host, or volunteer, contact Heather Norton at 407.514.2097 or email
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.

For further information about the YEA! Orlando program, please visit our partner at Orlando, Inc.

Six Orlando leaders lead a question-and-answer panel for Orlando Science Center's inaugural class of the Young Entrepreneurs Academy program. These leaders were able to impart their knowledge to entrepreneurs on the start of their journey.

YEA transforms local middle and high school students into real entrepreneurial successes. Over the course of nine months, students brainstorm and form their enterprises, make pitches to real investors, obtain funding, register their companies with governmental agencies, and by the end, launch their own business or social movement.

A COPY OF THE OFFICIAL REGISTRATION AND FINANCIAL INFORMATION FOR ORLANDO SCIENCE CENTER, A FLORIDA-BASED NONPROFIT CORPORATION (REGISTRATION NO. CH2342), MAY BE OBTAINED FROM THE DIVISION OF CONSUMER SERVICES BY CALLING TOLL-FREE 1-800-HELP-FLA (435-7352) WITHIN THE STATE OR VISITING THEIR WEBSITE. REGISTRATION DOES NOT IMPLY ENDORSEMENT, APPROVAL, OR RECOMMENDATION BY THE STATE.